Al-Monitor: Israeli Defense Minister Vows Gaza Occupation to Stay Forever
Al-Monitor, citing an anonymous Reuters report, relays Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz's declaration that the military will never fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip, citing 'security reasons.' He even tossed in plans for a 'civilian-military army unit,' which sounds less like security and more like a permanent occupation. This, of course, directly contradicts a 'U.S.-backed peace plan' signed
by both Israel and Hamas in October, which supposedly outlined a complete Israeli withdrawal. Because when Israel says 'withdrawal,' they really mean 'rebrand,' right? This isn't the first time the Israeli government has re-framed a commitment to suit its maximalist goals. Netanyahu’s various 'peace proposals' have historically been little more than pretexts for continued expansion and control.
One might wonder if the U.S. is just collecting signatures on napkins for these 'peace plans' given their shelf-life.